Cloud Calendar, Chop Chop Hockey lead iPad Apps of the Week

Just in time for the holidays, Martha Stewart delivers an app full of cookie goodness. New releases from some favorite game franchises, and a very nice calendar are also on this week’s list of best iPad apps. CLOUD CALENDAR ($2.99) For those of us who are less-than-thrilled with the iPad’s calendar capabilities, or who use […]

Just in time for the holidays, Martha Stewart delivers an app full of cookie goodness. New releases from some favorite game franchises, and a very nice calendar are also on this week’s list of best iPad apps.

CLOUD CALENDAR ($2.99)

For those of us who are less-than-thrilled with the iPad’s calendar capabilities, or who use Google Calendar exclusively, there is Cloud Calendar. Cloud Calendar syncs beautifully with Google Calendar and takes advantage of all of its features. You can create an event and invite people right from the app, as well as set up reminders and customize them to suit your needs and search for an event with a handy search function. With a tap on the calendar icon in the corner, you can access all of your calendars and choose which to display. Cloud Calendar is simple, functional and clean.

CHOP CHOP HOCKEY (99 cents for a limited time)

Gamerizon has expanded the Chop Chop game franchise with Chop Chop Hockey. Within minutes, I mastered the controls (better than I ever mastered actual ice-skating!) and was shooting goals and checking my opponents. An array of opposing teams, four different arenas, multiple difficulty levels and even camera angles make Chop Chop Hockey fun to play, and one-finger game control makes it easy for anyone.

MARTHA STEWART MAKES COOKIES ($7.99)

A warning: Martha Stewart Makes Cookies absolutely will crash on you the first time you open it; restarting my iPad fixed the problem for me. Another warning: you may be stuck in your kitchen with flour on your face and an extra five pounds on your butt. When you open the app, you are treated to a beautiful display of cookie goodness. Tap on a cookie to see an even more gorgeous photo and a description of the cookie, and then get the recipe. Each step of the recipe allows you to set a timer for how long it should take (maybe, if you’re Martha!). Ingredients can be added to a shopping list that can be emailed, and there are even “packaging tips” so you can pass out your delectable creations to family and friends in true Martha style. There are even videos of Martha making the cookies. Recipes are categorized, too, according to style—there are cookies for fancy parties, kids, sturdy cookies for shipping long distances, as well as cookies for the health-conscious and “hedonists.” And though $7.99 might seem steep, this is Martha, people!

LION PRIDE HUGE ($4.99)

While the first level of Lion Pride HUGE ($4.99) made the game seem easy, once I ventured into higher levels, I realized I had to plan before attacking — taking down a rhino is no simple task. You can position your lionesses to attack animals that stray too close to the den, and narrow in for the attack. There are lots of levels, and a “night mode” that lets you take control of the male lion to protect your cubs from nighttime attackers. If the male lion is around during the day, he can help take down larger prey. You can receive a grade on each level and try to improve, or move on to higher levels. The game uses Open Feint for comparing scores with others.